Current collector



Jan. 2l, 1930. J. F. DE TvRos GURRENT COLLECTOR Filed Feb. l1l 1927 5 lf3-WMM Patented Jan. 21, 1930 JULIUs FISCHER DE TvRos, or BUDAPEST, HUNGARY CURRENT COLLECTOR Application filed February 11, 1927, Serial No. 167,517, and in Hun-gary October 17, 1923.

The present invention relates to sliding collectors for electric current, and particularly to a rotatably mounted sliding collector of sheet metal with a flat contact surface;

the invention -being a continuation in part of that disclosed in my prior application No. 22,814, tiled April 13, 1925.

Sliding collectors of sheet metal with flat contact surfaces are advantageous because of the large area of contact between the sliding member and an overhead conductor. The wear on the current collector is reduced, and a large amount of current can be transmitted through one collector. These results, howevei, are only obtained if the sliding member is actually in contact with the overhead wire throughout its width (looking` in the direction of motion). It is important, therefore, that the sliding member be as light as possible and easily rotatable; but on the other hand, a flat and easily rotatable slide is apt to tip over, and several devices for preventing this have been proposed.

My present invention involves a sliding collector of the above-mentioned type which is very wide and light and which 'has a fully efficient contact surface in any position in which it may tilt, more particularly so that its counterweight is also adapted to act when necessary as a current-collecting surface. The disadvantages involved in tipping or tilting are eliminated, with the result that no means are necessary for preventing it. f

Three constructional examples of sliding collectors according to the invention are illust-rated -iu the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a sliding collector in eleva- '40 tion.;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged cross-sections on lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a second construction in crosssection, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through a sliding piece shaped as athreefaced prism.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the sliding collector is flat, hollow and made of sheet metal, and its cross-section has a width which do is a multiple of the vertical dimensions of the cross-section. This sliding piece is pivoted on a rod 2 that passes through openings in the end plates that close the tubular or hollow piece; the rod having its opposite ends secured in the ends of the tubular or hollow branches 4 of the trolley frame. vAccording to Fig. 2, the sliding` piece is made of two plates 1 and 1 having each two lubricating grooves 2O and bent at their edges; and these two plates 1, 1 are secured together by rivets 60 23 lying in the lubricating grooves, preferably with the provision of stiffening meinbers 24 through which the rod 2 passes. A sliding piece of this kind made in two pieces need not have merely a uniform cross-section but, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, its cross-section may gradually increase towards the middle so that both contact surfaces of the sliding piece may be curved, in which case the width of the stiifening members 24 must also increase towards the iniddle of the sliding piece; the said piece. therefore, gradually becoming circular inl crosssection towards the ends, as represented in Fig. 3. lVhen the cross-section of the twopart sliding piece is uniform throughout, the outer diameter of the rod is preferably equal to the vertical dimension of the clear crosssection of the sliding piece, so that the rod 2 supports the contact surfaces of the said 80 piece throughout its length. Should the sheet-metal contact surface become worn through, the rod 2 may, if necessary, replace the said surface. l

In o ider that the contact surface out of operation may act as an etlicient counterweight, the rod is asymmetrically disposed in relation to the two Contact surfaces, as shown in Fig. 4; and to this end, the apertures 28 receiving the rod are'elongated. Then the o sliding piece tips over, the `rod 2 automatically moves away from the then lower contact face (say 1') and approaches the upper contact face (say 1), so that the center of gravity of the sliding piece is automatically positioned or centered under the axis of rotation in both operative positions, with the consequence that the face in operation isv always in contact with the overhead wire.' The two plates that form the contact faces have their ends turned inward and fastened together by rivets and screws 25 and 26.

Fig. 5 illustrates a construction similar to that of Fig. 4l in which the sliding piece is .shaped as a triangular prism, all three faces being contact faces; and the openings 28 receiving the ends of the rod 2` are shaped Vso that those edges of the openings which have a larger cross-section than that of the rod lie nearest to the central line of the contact faces. According to Fig. 5 the openings receiving` the rod are each provided for this purpose with a projecting or extended portion in the vicinity of each of the Contact surfaces l, i i.

The springs 29 shown in dotted lines hold the rod 2 in the said projecting portions of the openings (Figs. 4 and 5). The hollow sliding pieces shown in the two last-inentioned constructions may be made in one piece from tubes by drawing or rolling processes, or they may be made out of one piece of sheet metal by welding or soldering; and in this case, of course, any damaged or worn conr tact surface cannot be replaced independently of the others.

I claim asmy invention 1. A current collector for slidable travel along a trolley wire, comprising a hollow sheet metal body having a plurality of flat, co-ordinate contact faces for interchangeable engagement with the wire, and a rod passing Ylengthwise through said body eccentrically of the same and whereon the` body is rotatably mounted.

2. A current collector for slidable travel along a trolley wire, comprising a hollow sheet meta-l body having a plurality of flat, co-ordinate contact faces for interchangeable engagement with the wire and having openings in its opposite end walls,.and a rod passing lengthwise through said body and its openings and whereon the body is rotatably mounted; said openings having an extent which is considerably greater than the diameter of the rod, and being so disposed that their edges vare located in extremely close proximity t0 the center lines of the respective contact faces.

3. A current collector for slidable travel along a trolley wire, comprising a hollow sheet metal body having a plurality of flat,

co-ordinate contact faces for interchangeable.

engagement with the wire; each face of the hollow body consisting of a separatesheet metal element which is provided with a Vplnrality of lubricant grooves, such elements "being fastened together by` rivets which are sunk 'in said grooves;.and a rod passing lengthwise through said body -and whereon Vthe same is rotatably moiuited.

,74. Acurrent collector `for slidable .travel alonga ,trolley wire, .comprising-a rhollow sheet metalfbodyhaving .a pluralitymf fiat, cti-.ordinate .contact faces ,ter interchangeable engagement with the wire; each face of the hollow body consisting of a separate sheet metal element which is provided with a plurality of lubricant grooves, such elements being fastened together by rivets which are sunk in said grooves; and a rod passing lengthwise through said body `eccentrically of the sameand `whereon the body is rotatably mounted.

'5. A current collector for slidable travel along a trolleyk wire, comprising a hollow sheet metal body having two flat, co-ordinate contact faces disposed in spaced, parallel relation for interchangeable engagement with the wire and having openings in its opposite end walls. and a rod .passing lengthwise through said vbody* and its openings-and whereon the body is rotatably mounted; said openings extending toward the various contact faces and having a lengthwhich is considerably greater than the diameter of the rod.

6. A current collector for .slidable travel along a trolley wire, comprising a hollow sheet metal body having two flat, co-ordinate contact faces disposed in spaced, parallel relation for interchangeable engagement with the wire, said contact faces being bo-wed transversely and outwardly in opposite direcn tions to a slight extent; and supporting means whereon said body is rotatably mounted.

7. A sliding current collector, according to claim 6, in which each contact face of the hollow body is provided with .a plurality of lubricant grooves.

8. A sliding current collector, according to claim 6, in which each contact face of the hollow body consists of a separate sheet metal element'provided with a Aplurality of lubricant grooves, such elements being fastened together .by .rivets which are sunk in said Y grooves.

JULIUS FISCHER DE TVAROS. 

